Gaming board approves Golden Nugget Danville Casino license
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DANVILLE — Danville Golden Nugget Casino received its permanent license to operate on Thursday from the Illinois Gaming Board.
The board voted 3-0 in favor of granting Danville Development LLC's owner's license for the Golden Nugget Danville Casino. One member was absent.
The license is in effect for four years, expiring in October 2027, when it has to be renewed through the board.
The IGB board also approved the following business entities and individuals suitable as key persons of Danville Development LLC doing business as Golden Nugget Danville Casino: Fertitta Entertainment Inc.; GN Danville Holdings LLC; Golden Fertitta LLC; Golden Landry's LLC; Golden Nugget LLC; Landry's Fertitta LLC; Landry's Gaming LLC; Wilmot Gaming Illinois LLC; Loretta Wilmot Conroy; Paige F. Fertitta; Tilman J. Fetitta; Steven L. Scheinthal; James A. Wilmot; Paul J. Wilmot; Thomas C. Wilmot Jr. and Thomas C. Wilmot Sr.
Golden Nugget Danville Casino received a temporary operating permit to open on May 26 from the IGB. The casino opened to the public the following day on May 27.
IGB Administrator Marcus Fruchter said in Golden Nugget Danville Casino's case, 13 was a lucky number. It was the 13th casino to open in Illinois.
The next step for the casino was board licensure.
Danville Development LLC President Jimmy Wilmot told the IGB on Thursday that it's been a fun three and a half years working on this project.
He said to be at the IGB meeting in Chicago was an honor for how much work everybody had put into the project to get to this point.
He also introduced Jahnae Erpenbach as the new casino general manager, taking over after Juris Basens oversaw Golden Nugget's opening.
Erpenbach said she's not new to Illinois. She was born and raised in southern Illinois and has 30 years gaming experience in Indiana and Illinois. She was part of the opening team of one of the first riverboat casinos, Players casino, in Illinois in 1993. Since then, she's had leadership roles throughout Illinois and Indiana.
"I can tell you humbly, I am ready and poised, and absolutely excited about the opportunity to join the Danville team," she said. "I'm looking for a lot of good success for the future to get it to the maximum potential that I know it can do."
Wilmot reviewed with the IGB board the timeline to today, which included the determination of initial suitability for the casino on March 10, 2022. He said casino construction took about a year to be completed after the groundbreaking in April 2022.
The casino opened at the end of May, had expanded operating hours starting July 5, had a grand opening on Aug. 4 and then was approved for current operating hours of 8 a.m. to 4 a.m. seven days a week since Aug. 11.
They've welcomed almost 135,000 people through the turnstiles, with adjusted gross receipts of $12,042,093.
The casino has about 244 employees, with a 90 percent retention rate. They brought on 85 employees since the initial opening, and they'd like to get another 20-30 dealers. The casino has 29 percent minority employees, 60 percent women, and 52 percent of women are in leadership.
From a residency perspective, 51 percent of employees live in Danville and 22 percent are local, with 84 percent residing in Illinois.
"We're building a solid team so far," Erpenbach said.
They've had job fairs, a new referral program with team members, and also launched a multi-cultural team council and have monthly celebrations and a spotlight program.
They also work toward their diversity purchasing, vendor and procurement goals of 30 percent minority, 5 percent veterans and 15 percent women.
Wilmot said his family and the company take pride in being part of the communities they operate in. He talked about the $1 million each and other financial commitments to the Boys and Girls Club, city's riverfront development and sewer projects, and annual funding to other local organizations.
Erpenbach said from a marketing perspective, this is the time to really turn it on and that's what they're going to do. They will be doing more marketing in the Champaign market, and in Terre Haute, Ind. "so that we can secure a competitive stronghold before that property gets open."
They hope to quadruple the 20,000 membership for Golden Nugget Danville Casino's database. Forty-seven percent of customers now come from Illinois, with 38 percent from Indiana. They plan to grow that, she said.
Wilmot said they have to treat their team members and guests to a very enjoyable experience working there or coming to play in the facility.
"It has to be safe. It has to have the feel of a family company. We want that to resonate with our staff as well as the people coming to gamble with us," Wilmot said.
IGB Board Chairman Charles Schmadeke's questions included about the casino site being a permanent location, and community support.
Wilmot said this is permanent. There's a scenario that if they hit a certain revenue number they might look at another site, but it is meant to be the permanent facility.
Wilmot also said community support has been wonderful.
"This has been a very smooth and supportive track," Wilmot said, comparing Illinois to obstacles in New York and California. "We're very happy with relationships and the support."
Schmadeke and Fruchter said it was a little rocky in the early days for the Danville casino with a different applicant, and they're glad all situations have improved.
Fruchter added that there were some challenges with the casino's initial opening, but the company and staff have been responsive and collaborative with the IGB team. He also said initial restrictions were lifted and that was the goal for those restrictions to get Golden Nugget Danville to a better point where it is now.
Fruchter said no suitability issues or concerns have been identified to preclude licensure.
The $100 million Golden Nugget Danville Casino is off Lynch Road at 204 Eastgate Drive on city’s east side.
The Danville Golden Nugget casino gaming floor features almost 500 slot machines, in addition to 14 table games. The Sportsbook has yet to open.
Golden Nugget Danville opened after a decades-long effort by local and state officials to have a casino open in Danville. In 2019, a gambling expansion bill included a casino license for Danville.
